Depression and addiction are closely related. People struggling with depression may feel as though they are living in a dark world with no hope on the horizon. They may feel low self-esteem, a sense of unworthiness, and despair. Some people turn to addictive substances like alcohol or drugs to ease their symptoms and make them feel somewhat ‘high’ for a short period of time. Although the person dealing with depression will feel better when experiencing the pleasurable after-effects, in the long term, abusing drugs can cause more damage to the brain and body, making the depression even worse.
On the other hand, the issue is bi-directional. This means that oftentimes, substance abuse comes first, and depression is caused as a result. Drugs that are depressants, such as alcohol, heroin, or cannabis, slow down the central nervous system of the person using the drug. This causes a sense of peace and calm but also fatigue, dizziness, poor coordination, and nausea, leading to depression.
Why are Depression and Substance Abuse Linked?
Addiction and depression are often diagnosed together because people with depression are tempted to use addictive substances to alleviate their symptoms. When both diagnoses are given to one person, it is known as a dual diagnosis or a co-occurring disorder. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, people with a history of mental illness are 25% more likely to abuse alcohol, 69% more likely to misuse cocaine, and 94% more likely to smoke. In fact, around a third of people who suffer from clinical depression also struggle with a drug or alcohol addiction.
What is Depression?
Depression, or Depressive disorder, is a mental health disorder where a person feels low and depressed, loses interest in activities, hobbies, or relationships that were previously enjoyed, and has an extreme lack of motivation. Although it’s normal to grieve after a loss, feel sad or unhappy at times, or have regular mood fluctuations, if these feelings occur every day for around 2 weeks and interfere with everyday normal activities, it could be an indication of clinical depression.
Below are some symptoms of depression:
- Lack of motivation and energy
- Loss of interest in past hobbies
- Poor concentration
- Trouble sleeping or fatigue
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Low self-esteem and self-worth
- Weight gain or loss
- Thoughts of dying or suicide
Overall, someone suffering from depression will lack the motivation to engage in normal everyday activities, even finding it a struggle to get out of bed. They may talk about hating themselves or have an obsession with death and dying. They may also express the desire to end their own life. Their performance will usually decrease at work, at home, and with their social crowd.
It’s important to note that people who are addicted to drugs may be suffering from depression, but it’s hard to detect it because drug addiction and depression have similar side effects.
Common Types of Depression
There are several different types of clinical depression, all of which require professional intervention to bring relief from the symptoms.
Common types of depression include:
- Major Depression: Also known as Major Depressive Disorder, this is the most commonly diagnosed form of depression. It is diagnosed by a mental health professional if at least five of the above symptoms are identified in a person for 2 weeks or longer, with at least one of them being feelings of depression or losing interest in activities. Under this type of depression, there are various subtypes, since depression presents itself differently in different people.
Included subtypes are:
- Anxious distress- feeling anxious and tense and the feeling that something bad may happen.
- Melancholy- extreme sadness and thoughts of suicide, particularly in the morning.
- Agitated- feeling nervous and impulsive, characterized by pacing or nervous tapping.
- Persistent Depressive Disorder: This is when a person struggles with depression that lasts for 2 years or longer. The symptoms are the same as Major Depression but do not go away for a significant amount of time for 2 or more years.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder: also known as SAD, this form of depression is usually present in the winter months only, when there is little sunshine. It is diagnosed if symptoms of depression persist over 3 consecutive winters, and treatment may entail sitting near a light box for around 15 minutes every day.
- Bipolar Disorder: also known as ‘manic depression,’ Bipolar Disorder is where a person experiences extreme, manic ‘highs’ followed by depressive ‘low’ episodes. The ‘low’ periods mimic Major Depression in symptoms.
- Postpartum Depression: PPD is a common form of depression for women after they give birth. This is especially pertinent when, besides the life-altering experience of having a baby and the accompanying hormonal imbalance, a woman feels overwhelmed, unsupported, or otherwise stressed.
- Psychotic Depression: this is a form of depression where there are hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia, meaning that the depression is also psychotic.
There are other forms of depression, but these are the most commonly diagnosed forms. With every form of depression, the person struggling with depression will affect others, such as their family, friends, and colleagues in the workplace. Depression is dark and painful, but fortunately, there are many medications and therapies that can help you or your loved one manage their condition and live a productive life.
How to Help Someone with Drug Addiction and Depression
Living with someone with depression, a substance use disorder, or both can be very difficult. Life can be very unpredictable and gloomy, with the struggling loved one unable to support, connect, or engage normally with people around them. It is okay to feel overwhelmed or even resentful of your loved one. The first thing you can do is find support for yourself so you don’t fall into despair or become emotionally drained and so you can best support your loved one and help them overcome their issues.
With regards to your loved one showing signs of either depression, substance abuse disorder, or both, you can observe them and educate yourself on the common symptoms of both depression and addiction and find out how many can be identified. You can also research treatment options if your loved one approaches you for help.
You can do things like finding a professional psychiatrist to diagnose the disorder/s, 12-step groups or other support groups in your area, a mental health expert such as a therapist or psychologist in your area that provides counseling for addiction and depression, and a reputable drug rehab center near you that can offer a customized treatment plan to help your loved one manage both conditions. With the help of a trained professional, you may decide that an intervention is necessary to urge your loved one to seek help for their condition/s. This is a very important consideration as if left untreated, both depression and substance abuse disorder will most likely worsen until it is fatal.
Treatment for Depression and Addiction
Depression and addiction recovery is more complicated than just depression or addiction recovery alone. If one disorder is treated without knowledge of the other, the recovery will be unsuccessful at best and cause a further decline at worst. This is because substance abuse can cause a need for more hospitalization, worsen the symptoms of depression, and interfere with the treatment plan. It can also react to the antidepressants that people with depression take, leading to dangerous effects. Therefore, it is imperative that both depression and addiction are diagnosed by a professional and that any treatment plan includes both of these disorders.
Rehab for Addiction and Depression
At a drug rehab center that also treats depression co-concurringly, many forms of interventions are leveraged to customize a plan with the best possible chances of success. Antidepressants are typically prescribed to treat the symptoms of depression, and there are other medications that can be administered to assist in the treatment of drug addiction. It has been proven that medication can alleviate the symptoms so that a person can utilize talk therapy and learn tools and skills to help them master their depression or substance abuse disorder.
Other common treatment plans for depression include CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), Trauma therapies, Family Systems Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. Substance abuse disorder is treated with a medically supervised detox, 12-step groups, other support groups, individual therapy, family or marriage counseling, and a range of other therapeutic modalities.
With both conditions, addiction and depression treatment centers will focus on teaching strategies to manage both diseases, how to reintegrate into society in a productive and meaningful way (after-care), and how to remain sober and depression-free for the long term.
If you or your loved one is suffering from one or both conditions, know you are not alone. Our highly professional and experienced staff at Avenues Recovery are waiting to help you. Recovery may be tough, but with the right help it is entirely possible. Reach out today to experience our efficient and caring help in getting your life back on track. We will teach you how to manage your symptoms and guide you towards a life free of addiction and depression.